Rock climbing in Krabi

Rock climbing in Krabi
Originally uploaded by KasiaS.

Here's one for overcoming challenges. That pink spot attached to the red rope would be me...ahh...the memories ;)

done.

Two posts in one week?? My, my...things really are looking up. But for good reason, I'm finally done with my possibly second to last semester (taking a while to figure that out). At 10 pm tonight (yes I had a final exam on SATURDAY NIGHT, the absolute last spot available on our uni calendar and officially the worst time in the history of higher education) I was finally done for the year. Now I'm avoiding packing for the trip home tomorrow (technically today, in a few hours in fact). Funny how that works, so anxious to go when I have all that work staring me in the face, and now when the storm has passed I could stay for a while longer. When I was younger, a procrastinator worthy of the term, I always wished my life were as simple as that of a domesticated animal...nothing to worry about but eating, sleeping and finding a warm spot to nap on. There I was, facing a mountain of work and many sleepless nights ahead wishing I was my cat (ok...so I'm weird). But backtrack a few weeks to when I had nothing to do and was bored out of my mind, just waiting for a challenge, something exciting to pass the days...and the grass is always greener on the other side. But it's always like that, isn't it? As you endlessly slave away at work or school you dream of doing nothing, as you trudge through 6 foot snowbanks losing frostbitten fingers along the way, you wish you were on a tropical island, sunshine warming your face. But you keep going nonetheless, knowing that overcoming each challenge will bring you one step closer to the goal, one step closer to your tropical island (or your front door, whatever). We can't pick our challenges and each one is significant in its own way, preparing you for the grueling road ahead, because nothing worth having will come easily. And so, although I sometimes still wish things were easier, I know that life wouldn't be interesting if they were and then I'm thankful for the fact that I have challenges to overcome and dreams to realize.

happy.

I'm happy!! I mean really happy. I feel like jumping for joy, happy! So what's new....well, I'm almost done with this semester, which means I'm that much closer to getting out of here ;) yay!! Had my Arabic exam today, I'll miss that class. Our ustaadh was really cool and made learning a really difficult language not that bad. I also got a new job! Next semester I'll be working with Illini Union Community Connection helping organize projects aimed at connecting the U of I community to some important issues. I was so full of ideas I just couldn't shut up at the meeting today. I'm finally going to be able to put those great ideas to some good use. And, anyone who's been looking at the calendar recently will notice that Christmas is just around the corner, which being my favorite holiday puts me into an especially good mood. All the family, wonderful food, giving gifts, and the snow! Though getting used to the cold has been hard (you'd think I'd have grown up on the Equator the way I exaggerate this) it's also been fun feeling like a little kid again. Snow makes everything beautiful! So that's the update for now, but things are definitely looking up these days. Wishing everyone a very blessed holiday season and though it's still early a very Merry Christmas!! (I just couldn't help myself :) )